Wednesday, March 12, 2008

A Cloudy Day

Yesterday morning I left home for a day of chaplain ministry in two care centers not far away. I usually don't have my camera with me on ministry days but yesterday, at the last minute, I took it along. I'm so glad I did. As I headed south toward the care center in a neighboring community I discovered the clouds. Big. Beautiful. Beyond belief. My schedule required that I keep driving but my heart just longed to take my camera and go wherever I might. Just my camera and me.Later in the morning I learned that a dear resident at the care center had unexpectedly passed away over the weekend. We were friends. Closer than any other resident I minister to. I was filled with sadness - not for her. For me. I will miss her. When I finished my time at the care center I needed a chance to step away for a while. I took time to just 'wander' with my camera and capture images of the clouds above. It was exactly what I needed. Camera therapy. Time. Alone. With my thoughts and tears. And the beauty of God's creation.

Today I will attend the funeral of another dear lady I have ministered to over the past two years. She, too, was a special friend. A family friend for many years. Her smile when I arrived always tugged at my heartstrings. She has been ill for a very long time. The last miles of her earthly journey have not been easy but she, too, is home at last. Where she so longed to be. Healthy. Whole. With her Savior. Today we will celebrate her life and recall how much a quiet little lady gave to each of us.

A song we often sing together in the care centers has real meaning to both of these dear friends. Now they both understand it better than ever.

Oh! they tell me of a home far beyond the skies -
And they tell me of a home far away.
Oh! they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise -
Oh! they tell me of an unclouded day.

Oh! they tell me of a home where my friends have gone
And they tell me of that land far away
Where the Tree of Life in eternal bloom
Sheds its' fragrance through the unclouded day.


Oh! they tell me of the King in His beauty there
And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold
Where He sits on a throne that is whiter than snow
In the city that is made of gold.

Oh! the land of cloudless skies -
Oh! the land of an uncloudy day;
Oh! they tell me of a home where no stormclouds rise -
Oh! they tell me of an unclouded day.

8 comments:

  1. Im so proud to see people still live with a heart as yours. I have lost many clients and at times things a see remind me of this. This week has been hard. I have two that changed my life about this time last year.
    God bless you and I love the photos.The early morn my client that hadn't spoke in days raised his arms and said I wanna go home and started singing Jesus loves me...I had to get out and as I did I looked to the sky. I saw the clouds open and walked in and was sure he was gone...he held on a few days,but the beauty of the clouds were awsome.

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  2. your post really blessed me today... the clouds and the hymn...were just what I needed to see and hear today...and I'm sure your friend was singing it at the top of her voice!!!
    thank you,
    Mimi

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  3. Dear Adrienne, you have lost too many people you are close to in the past few months. My heart goes out to you. I will keep you in my prayers and I hope that this is the last of losing friends for a while!
    Hugs
    Kathy

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  4. Such a beautiful and touching post, dear friend. You have such a kind and loving heart and it show thru all of your writings. You must make a fabulous friend, indeed!
    The photos are breathtaking...thanks so much for sharing....
    hugs, bj

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  5. Oh I'm so sorry to hear of your two friends...and that you will be sad for a while. Those picture of the clouds are just beautiful. Blessings to you for being such a good person. Those two friends were so lucky they had you.
    Hugs,
    Rose

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  6. You're right, a life worth celebrating! You have such an uplifting way of looking at this!
    :0)
    Tara

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  7. Lovely post, and beautiful pictures! ~Deb

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